Transitions Optical Expands Efforts With National Council of Negro Women to Reach African Americans With Eye Health Education

9/6/2011 1:41:50 PM

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Transitions Optical, Inc., the leading supplier of photochromic eyeglass lenses, will make a second appearance at the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Black Family Reunion Celebration on September 10 in Washington, D.C. The event will kick off a series of outreach efforts in partnership with NCNW, a national organization that supports women of African descent, to promote the importance of eye health among the African-American community.

During the Black Family Reunion Celebration, Transitions Optical will provide free vision screenings within the Health & Fitness Pavilion, with support from retail partner America's Best. Transitions Optical will make available eye health resources, including the NCNW co-branded "What to Expect: African-American Eyes" brochure and materials sending attendees to Transitions Optical's corporate giving program website, HealthySightForLife.org/GroupsAtRisk, for additional information about African-American eye health.

Transitions Optical will also sponsor a first-time, special appearance by Bess the Book Bus a non-profit mobile literacy outreach vehicle that tours the country educating children, parents and teachers about the connection between healthy vision and learning. During the event, Bess the Book Bus will distribute free books and reading-related giveaways to children. Through its partnership with Transitions Optical and VSP® Vision Care, Bess the Book Bus distributed more than 65,000 books, and hundreds of pairs of eyeglasses, to more than 10,000 underprivileged children in 37 states throughout 2010.

"We began our African-American outreach efforts last year with great success and are looking to continue the momentum," said Manuel Solis, multicultural marketing manager, Transitions Optical. "We are excited to once again partner with NCNW at an even deeper level to not only reach consumers, but also leaders within the African-American community."

Transitions Optical will continue to work with NCNW to raise eye health awareness among African Americans with the distribution of eye health information during the NCNW 55th Annual National Convention held in November, and among NCNW regional chapters located across the country. Eye health resources from Transitions Optical, including a downloadable version of the "African-American Eyes" brochure and a link to HealthySightForLife.org/GroupsAtRisk, will also be posted to the NCNW website.

"We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Transitions Optical because eye health is such an important yet often neglected area when addressing overall health and well-being," said Avis Jones-DeWeever, executive director, NCNW. "We are making vision care a priority in our health programming and look forward to working with Transitions Optical to bring this important information to our community."

Transitions Optical is active in raising eye health awareness among ethnic communities who are at higher risk for many eye- and overall-health issues yet often aren't taking the steps necessary to enhance their vision today and protect it for the future. Transitions Optical's multicultural marketing efforts have garnered several national honors over the past few years, including two PRSA Anvils and a PRNews Platinum PR Award in 2011.

About Transitions Optical

As the leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers, Transitions Optical, headquartered in Pinellas Park, Fla., offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs and materials. Transitions Optical is driven by innovation to support the advancement of healthy sight and adaptive eyewear, and to providing its partners the tools and programs their businesses need to thrive. Transitions® lenses are the #1-recommended photochromic lenses worldwide.

Transitions Optical's family of products includes everyday lenses, designed to be worn indoors and darken outdoors, and performance lenses, designed to be worn outdoors in place of sun lenses. Transitions everyday lenses adapt to light to provide more comfortable vision while protecting eyes from UV. Transitions performance lenses include the company's sunwear line, Transitions® SOLFX sun lenses, which enhance visual performance in specific outdoor activities by adapting to optimize color and darkness in changing light conditions.

For more, visit Transitions.com/PRO or TransitionsSOLFX.com, or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (U.S.) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).